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APRA Silver Scrolls: the top 20 finalists are here

Thursday 21st July 2016

What’s the best New Zealand song of the year? It’s down to these 20 finalists.

Seth Haapu.

Photo: Josh Griggs

The top 20 finalists for year’s APRA Silver Scroll Award have been announced.

Among the nominees this year are David Dallas, Lawrence Arabia, The Phoenix Foundation and Tami Neilson. There’s also a contingent of newcomers including Street Chant, Leisure, Yoko-Zuna and Pacific Heights.

The awards, which are now in their 51st year, aim to recognise outstanding achievement in songwriting. Winners from the past five years include Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Tami Neilson, Lorde, LIPS and Avalanche City.

“A song can take and age or a moment to write but the pleasure the great songs give us are rewards to treasure,” said APRA spokesperson Anthony Healey.

“These songs come from the new and old, the north and south and span all genre. They are connected only by the fact they've been written here in New Zealand and the fact they are each, in their own unique way, excellent.”

The 20 finalists up for the award were chosen by an anonymous panel of judges and it’s now left to the 10,000-plus APRA members to vote and decide the winners. They’ll be announced at a ceremony at Vector Arena on Thursday 29 September alongside the winner of the APRA Maioha Award, SOUNZ Contemporary Award, APRA Best Original Music in a Feature Film Award and APRA Best Original Music in a Series Award. As usual, there’ll also be a celebration to mark the newest inductee into the New Zealand Music Hall of Fame.

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